Northeast Heat Wave Ahead Next Week?

A new pattern change around this coming weekend may make way for a heat wave in the Northeast early to mid next week. This comes as the Bermuda High, which is currently situated off the East Coast and is helping to fuel the heavy, flooding rains, retrogrades to the west and becomes centered over the Southeast Sunday into Monday.

As this transition happens, it will turn mainly dry across the region starting Sunday through at least Tuesday. Unfortunately, the humidity will hang around thanks to the warm, southerly flow, which will draw in the heat.

This potential heat wave may begin as early as Sunday, as high temperatures soar into the upper 80s and possibly the low 90s in and near the I-95 corridor. Interior areas will be a tad cooler but still upwards of 5 to 10 degrees above average, with high temperatures in the low to mid 80s with the exception of the higher elevations.

On Monday, the mid-level winds will take on a more westerly flow, possibly allowing for temperatures to be a degree or two warmer than on Sunday. This will also bring temperatures up into the mid to upper 80s across many interior locations.

Tuesday is the day to watch for the warmest of temperatures. This comes as the flow shifts again—winds will now comes out of the southwest aloft across most of the northeastern US. Temperatures should rise into the low 90s across the I-95 corridor and the mid to upper 80s to low 90s elsewhere.

The current probabilities from the European model (ECMWF) suggest a moderate chance for temperatures of at least 90 degrees in the metropolitan areas of the I-95 corridor Tuesday afternoon.

A cold front will then begin to cut across the region on Wednesday, ushering in a new round of showers and thunderstorms, mainly to the interior Northeast. The hotspots will likely be along the coast and in New England as high temperatures range from upper 80s to low 90s in most locales.

The entire northeastern US should then “cool-down” late-week thanks to the progression of the cold front. Due to the lack of cool air behind the front, however, temperatures should only drop off by a few degrees. High temperatures through at least next weekend are currently forecast to hover around 80 degrees across the region overall.

Jackson is Head of Content at WeatherOptics and produces several forecasts and manages all social media platforms. Previously, Jackson forecasted local weather for southwestern Connecticut, founding his website, Jackson's Weather, in the March of 2015. He is currently studying Meteorology and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Miami.